Abstract-A challenge in the adoption of the OpenFlow (OF)-based SDN paradigm is related to the limited number of OF rules supported by the network devices. The technology used to implement the OF rules is TCAM, which is expensive and power demanding. Due to this, the network devices are either very costly or they can support a very limited number of OF rules. One way to cope with this limitation, is to perform the same logic but with fewer OF rules in the devices. As a demonstration of this operational strategy, the current paper proposes a service for traffic flow aggregation which reduces the number of OF rules needed in the network devices, without impacting the control plane logic. The proposed traffic flow aggregation service is tested on a set of topologies specific to the backhaul network, since they aggregate a large amount of traffic flows. The results illustrate significant reductions in the number of OF rules in network devices, thus a lower demand on TCAM capacity.

In an increasingly interconnected world, new opportunities for telecom-based services are emerging. Innovative applications profit from cloud versatility and scalability, but require a platform to combine the optimized 5G network fabric with the advancements in the domain of cloud computing, Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). In this multi-domain context, we find that available service platforms are lagging, because they tend to be tightly coupled to a constrained set of technologies. In practice, we need the flexibility to deploy different microservices over a heterogeneous range of infrastructure types, aggregating various virtualization, orchestration and control mechanisms. Moreover, the integration of the service requires collaboration among a wide mix of actors (e.g. developers, operators, hardware/software vendors, infrastructure/service providers or vertical integrators). We propose a next-generation Platform-asa-Service (NGPaaS), devised as a modular framework for the development and operation of network services, while targeting a high degree of both customization and automation. The presented architecture is built around a workflow-based orchestrator which coordinates custom-built tasks across a tailored group of specialized infrastructure or platforms. We also explain how NGPaaS enhances DevOps-principles, to achieve a more efficient integration process across the many isolated administrative domains in the modern telco landscape. Keywords-NFV; SDN; 5G; PaaS Architecture; DevOps; Devfor-Operationshigh modularity/microservice based high level of virtualization implementation characteristics Capex + Lock-in (vendor, technology) Time-to-market testing, communication overhead cost (dev, deployment, opex)optimal PaaS configuration default PaaS features monolithic, hardware-based Fig. 1. The PaaS architecture is microservice-based, where the right design achieves the optimal trade-off.

The Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) model, allows service providers to build and deploy their services following streamlined work-flows. However, platforms deployed through the PaaS model can be very diverse in terms of technologies and involved subsystems (e.g. infrastructure, orchestration). Thus, the means for deploying and managing a service can significantly vary depending on the deployed platform. To address this issue, this paper proposes a policy-based framework designed for the Next Generation Platform-as-a-Service (NGPaaS). This framework allows service providers to define platform-wide and technology-agnostic policies to NGPaaS, by means of abstraction of the underlying platforms and the use of generic interfaces. The paper also presents a specific use case for the proposed framework, which targets network-oriented policies.

Platform-As-A-Service (PaaS) systems offer customers a rich environment in which to build, deploy, and run applications. Today's PaaS offerings are tailored mainly to the needs of web and mobile applications developers, and involve a fairly rigid stack of components and features. The vision of the H2020 5GPPP Phase 2 Next Generation Platform-as-a-Service (NGPaaS) project is to enable "build-to-order" customized PaaSes, tailored to the needs of a wide range of use cases with telcograde 5G characteristics. This paper sets out the salient and innovative features of NGPaaS and explores the impacts on Operational Support Systems and Business Support Systems (OSS/BSS), moving from fixed centralized stacks to a much more flexible and modular distributed architecture.

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